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CMRL’s Realignment Brings Relief to Commuters and Clears the Way for New Infrastructure.
To reduce land acquisition and improve operational ease, CMRL has opted for a direct alignment between Kendriya Vidyalaya and Koyambedu. (PTI)
The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has begun work on a revised route near Koyambedu that was finalised a year ago.
This realignment is part of Phase II, Corridor 5 (Madhavaram–Sholinganallur), and aims to make the route more direct and efficient.
Why the Change?
Earlier, the metro line was designed to curve after VR Mall, pass by the DMDK party office, and then head to Koyambedu.
But with long-distance bus services moving from Chennai Moffusil Bus Terminus (CMBT) to Kilambakkam, projected passenger numbers for this stretch declined.
To adapt, CMRL decided to drop the proposed Kaliamman Koil Street station and follow a straighter path from Kendriya Vidyalaya to Koyambedu.
One station, two corridors
The metro now skips the congested 100 Feet Road and will feature a consolidated station directly above the existing Koyambedu metro station. This strategic shift brings both Corridor 2 and 5 into a single, central hub. Despite changes, the double-decker viaduct at Koyambedu remains part of the plan, with completion expected by June 2026.
Residents have largely supported the move. “This area is always jammed. Adding another station would have made things worse,” said R. Kumaran, a local from Natesan Nagar. “A straighter route makes better sense.”
New Skywalk Finally Coming
With the station dropped, the State Highways Department is speeding up plans for an Rs 18 crore skywalk. This long-awaited project will help pedestrians cross between the DMDK office area and the MTC bus stop near Jawaharlal Nehru Road.
Challenges Underground
Further north, work has been delayed on the underground section between Nadamuni and Madhavaram, which passes under the Coovum River. This stretch was held up after six JICA-funded tenders were cancelled. Though new contracts were signed last year, riverbed work got permission only last month.
Thirumangalam Shift
At Thirumangalam, the station that was supposed to be over a bridge has been shifted to the side. This change will require demolishing four residential flats, as trains will now pass straight through the buildings.
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c…Read More
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c… Read More
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